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Guinea to vote in first free polls since 1958

Published - June 27, 2010 12:21 am IST - CONAKRY:

Guinea's historic election on Sunday will not be perfect, analysts say, but a strong turnout is expected from among four million voters keen to put an end to half a century of dictatorship rule.

The West African country is holding in its first free election since independence in 1958. Guinea's “father of independence” turned President-for-life Ahmed Sekou Toure ruled repressively for 26 years and his sudden death in 1984 was quickly followed by a coup which led to 24 years of military rule by General Lansana Conte.

After Conte's death in 2008, another military junta led by Captain Musa Dadis Camara, promising elections, the happiness of the people and a fight against corruption, quickly led the country into disaster. This election is taking place nine months after an army massacre left at least 156 of Camara's opponents brutally murdered. Since then Guineans were delivered a transition government.

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